Modern semantics

How is it possible that we understand sentences we have never heardbefore? This course will cover – in some formal detail – compositional semantics, i.e., the principles governing the composition of meanings of larger syntactic units (sentences, phrases) from the meanings of the constituents (phrases, words) of these units. The course is partially based on the “Semantics in Generative Grammar” textbook (Irene Heim and

Angelika Kratzer) and makes use of the “Lambda Calculator” tool (http://lambdacalculator.com/).

The course very roughly follows the not-so-new but still very relevant textbook “Semantics in Generative Grammar” by Irene Heim and Angelika

Kratzer. While the textbook was first published (by Blackwell) in 1998, it is still treated as lingua franca in formal semantics – familiarity with it is

often assumed in current semantic publications. The course usually covers the first 6–7 chapters of the textbook, but it also includes material outside of the textbook; moreover, unlike in the textbook, in the course we will to a large extent rely on meaning representations in the language of predicate logic.

As a result of the course, students will get to know:

– the lambda calculus and its role in semantic compositionality (K_W02)

– the basics of the generative approach to the syntax–semantics interface (K_W02, K_U01)

– the mechanisms of semantic compositionality as understood in contemporary linguistics (K_W01, K_W02, K_U01, K_K01)

Students will also learn in practice how to:

– represent meanings of natural language sentence in the language of logic (K_U01, K_U05, K_K02)

– derive such meaning representations from meanings of particular words (K_U05, K_U08, K_K02)

Because of the interactive nature of the course, students will also enhancetheir ability to:

– concisely articulate arguments concerning abstract and formal issues (K_U07)

– listen to – and evaluate – arguments of others (K_U07)

Formal assessment will be made on the basis of homeworks and classtests. There will be 3 or 4 classtests, in the case of each at leat 50%

of points should be obtained. The average of these percentages will be the basis of grading:

< 55% – fail

< 64% – 3

< 72% – 3+

< 79% – 4

< 88% – 4+

< 95% – 5

>= 95% – 5!

However, additional points may be given for class activity. On the other hand, the final mark will be lowered in the case of failed or not returned

homeworks (1/4 of grade for each lacking homework). Homeworks will in general be rather simple and will serve as practice before classtests. Most of them will use the “Lambda Calculator” tool which provides immediate feedback to students.

There is no formal requirement to attend the classes but there is a very strong practical requirement to do so: homeworks and classtests will

verify the knowledge of mechanisms and conventions introduced during classes, and these will differ in various respects from those of any existing textbook, including Heim and Kratzer 1998.

Students must respect the principles of academic integrity. Cheating and plagiarism (including copying work from other students, internet or other

sources) are serious violations that are punishable and instructors are required to report all cases to the administration.